Trey Lance wins QB2 as Chargers trim to 53
The Los Angeles Chargers made their cuts by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, and one decision stood out: Trey Lance earned the backup job behind Justin Herbert, while the team carried just two quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster. That’s a real vote of confidence in Herbert’s durability and in Lance’s readiness if things go sideways.
Lance arrived in Los Angeles as a former top draft pick in search of a reset, and his summer delivered exactly that. He stacked steady practices, cut down on the mistakes that dogged him early in his NFL career, and looked decisive operating the offense. The staff didn’t hand him anything—this was a competition—and his preseason work gave Jim Harbaugh enough trust to go light at the position on cutdown day.
Keeping two quarterbacks frees up a roster spot that can matter in September. Coaches love flexibility at the back end: an extra special teamer, a sixth corner, or another edge rusher who can help on fourth down. Expect Los Angeles to keep developing a third passer on the practice squad and use elevations if needed. It’s a calculated bet that the emergency plan starts with preparation, not paperwork.
This is Harbaugh’s second season in charge, and the roster has his fingerprints all over it—physical up front, deeper on defense, and built to run when the game script calls for it. The numbers tell the story: 24 players on offense, 27 on defense, and two specialists. That defensive tilt echoes how the Chargers want to win close games they let slip a year ago.
On offense, the headliners remain clear. Herbert is the franchise’s anchor. Behind him, the run game leans on Najee Harris and rookie Omarion Hampton to grind out first downs and set up play-action. Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey adds burst and timing to the passing game, giving Herbert a separator on third down. Lance’s job is simple: master the system, protect the football, and keep the operation on schedule if he’s called on. His mobility adds a changeup the staff can tap in packages, especially in the red zone.
The decision to go with Lance wasn’t just about upside; it was about reliability. The Chargers wanted clean mechanics, quick decisions, and command in and out of the huddle. That showed up in the preseason, where he played within structure, avoided forcing throws, and used his legs to extend plays without courting risk. There’s a long way between August reps and January football, but the baseline is better than it’s been for him in years.
Defensively, the plan is familiar: let the front dictate. Khalil Mack remains the tone-setter off the edge, and his presence opens lanes for the rest of the rush. On the back end, Derwin James Jr. still does a little bit of everything—match tight ends, blitz off the slot, and clean up over the top. With 27 defensive players, Los Angeles can roll waves, mix personnel, and keep the speed fresh through four quarters.
Special teams stability matters when the margins are thin, and the Chargers kept it intact. Kicker Cameron Dicker, punter JK Scott, and long snapper Josh Harris return as the battery. Hidden yards were a problem in stretches last season; continuity there helps the field-position math in the early weeks while the offense finds rhythm.
What the 53 says about the plan—and what comes next
Roster cutdown day is a snapshot, not a finish line. Players with fewer than four accrued seasons must clear waivers; vested veterans go straight to free agency. The waiver period and practice squad building start Wednesday, and teams churn the bottom third of the roster all week. Don’t be surprised if Los Angeles claims a developmental lineman, adds a core special teamer, or flips a back-end spot after medical evaluations and league-wide releases settle.
Harbaugh’s choice to carry two quarterbacks also hints at confidence in the weekly game plan. With Herbert, the playbook stretches horizontally and vertically. With Lance, it narrows a bit, but the Chargers can lean into the ground game, use motion to create clean reads, and call designed movement to simplify throws. That kind of contingency planning happens now, not the first time a helmet goes missing on a sideline concussion check.
There’s also a chemistry angle. A slimmer quarterback room can tighten communication between the starter, the backup, and the coaches. Fewer voices, clearer feedback, faster corrections. For Lance, that means more direct time with Herbert on protections, route adjustments, and two-minute operations—areas that often separate “capable” from “trusted.”
On offense, the personnel mix points to balance. Harris gives them a downhill answer against light boxes, Hampton brings fresh legs and burst, and McConkey offers quick-game reliability. If the line wins early downs, the Chargers can stay out of obvious passing situations and keep Herbert upright. That’s been the blueprint since the spring: fewer hero-ball moments, more sustainable drives.
Defensively, depth was non-negotiable. A year ago, the unit flashed but wore down. The 27-man group lets the Chargers keep the pass rush rotating, protect the secondary with fresh nickel bodies, and cover for in-game attrition. It also builds special teams redundancy—gunners, jammers, and coverage aces often come from the fourth and fifth options at corner and safety.
Specialists stick for a reason. Dicker has been steady inside 50, JK Scott’s hang time helps the coverage unit, and Harris rarely shows up on a broadcast—and that’s the highest compliment for a long snapper. Those three turn chaos into routine, which is exactly what you want in September.
What changes between now and Week 1? The practice squad will fill fast—up to 16 spots, typically a blend of developmental prospects and veteran insurance. Expect a quarterback to land there as the de facto QB3, a swing lineman or two, a back with return ability, and a defensive back who can cover kicks. Elevations give the staff a way to tailor the game-day 48 without reshuffling the 53.
All of this funnels into the opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chargers know the margin for error in the AFC West is razor-thin. The formula is straightforward: keep Herbert clean, win the turnover battle, and get off the field on third down. Lance may not see the field in Week 1, but his presence—and the decision to go light at quarterback—fund the depth they’ll need when the season turns into a grind.
One last thing about cutdown day: it’s emotional. Careers pivot on phone calls. For Los Angeles, the message was clear and unsentimental—earn your role, contribute on teams, and be ready to adjust. Lance did that this summer, and the roster around him reflects the Chargers’ bigger bet: a tougher, deeper outfit built to hold leads rather than chase them.
The 53 is set for now. The work, and the roster churn, never stop.